Veronica plant named ‘Foxy Lady’

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct cultivar of ornamental Spiked Speedwell  Veronica spicata  ‘Foxy Lady’ with erect compact spikes of numerous two-tone ruby and white buds and flowers above low mats of foliage and suitable as a potted plant, for the garden, and for cut flower arrangements.

Botanical classification: Veronica spicata.

Variety denomination: ‘Foxy Lady’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar of SpikedSpeedwell, botanically known as Veronica spicata ‘Foxy Lady’, andhereinafter referred to as the cultivar ‘Foxy Lady’ or the “plant”. Thenew plant was discovered in the summer of 2005 by Daniel R. Fynewever inthe production fields of a nursery in Hamilton, Mich., USA, as a wholeplant non-induced sport of Veronica spicata ‘Red Fox’ (not patented).The plant has been asexually propagated by stem cuttings and tissueculture at the same nursery in the greenhouses in Zeeland, Mich., andsubsequent asexually propagated plants found to be identical to theoriginal selection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PLANT

Veronica spicata ‘Foxy Lady’ is unique from all other Spiked Speedwellknown to the inventor. Other forms have white, lavender, blue or pinkishlavender flowers, but this is the only variety known by the applicant tohave two-tone ruby and white flowers. The closest comparison variety isVeronica ‘Red Fox’, which has a solid pinkish lavender flower.

The following are traits of Veronica spicata ‘Foxy Lady’ that incombination distinguish it from all other known Spiked Speedwell:

-   -   1. Stiff; upright, compact spikes above short mats of foliage.    -   2. Numerous compact flowers of distinctly two-toned colors with        white on the petal margins and ruby in the central portion of        the petals.    -   3. Buds starting off white to light pink and becoming two-toned        buds of white and ruby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the unique traits of ‘FoxyLady’ and the overall appearance of the plant. The colors are asaccurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Variation inambient light spectrum, source and direction may cause the appearance ofminor variation in color.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the flower.

FIG. 2 shows the plant in full flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions and color references are based on the 2001edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except wherecommon dictionary terms are used. Veronica spicata ‘Foxy Lady’ has notbeen observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may varyslightly with different growing environments such as temperature, light,fertility, soil pH, moisture and maturity levels, but without any changein the genotype. The following observations and size descriptions arebased on two-year old plants in the full sun trial garden of a nurseryin Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental fertilizer and water as needed.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica spicata;-   Parentage: Uninduced whole-plant sport of Veronica spicata ‘Red Fox’    (not patented);-   Plant habit: Hardy herbaceous perennial, compact, with several    stems, 10 to 12 cm tall without scapes and 35 to 40 cm wide;    flowering beginning late June in Mich. and continuing for about 6    weeks with occasional repeat if deadheaded;-   Leaves: Simple, lanceolate, opposite, serrated, minutely pubescent    below and above, acute apex, attenuate base; 4 to 6 cm long by 1.5    to 2.2 cm wide, RHS 137C on top, RHS 138C below;-   Veins: Minutely pubescent below and above, arcuate, same color ( RHS    137C) as leaf on adaxial surface; center vein and secondary veins    closest to center vein on abaxial surface RHS 141D; main vein about    0.5 mm diameter;-   Petiole: 2.5 to 3.0 cm long and 2 mm wide; RHS 144C nearest stem and    RHS 137C nearest blade;-   Buds two days prior to opening: Convolute, narrowly oblong, obtuse    apex; about 4 mm long and 1.5 mm diameter; appearing almost    longitudinally striped with RHS 64B and white with no visible    tinting pigment;-   Flowers: On seldom branched upright spike; numerous, approximately    200; 8 mm in diameter and about 7 mm deep; no detectible fragrance;    flowers persist individually for 3 to 5 days whether on the plant or    cut, self-cleaning;-   Petals: Four, simple, entire, with rounded apex and fused at base, 5    mm long by 3 mm wide, glabrous outer and inner sides except with 2    mm long hairs of RHS 62D at inside base;-   Petal color: Identical on inner and outer sides, central petal    portions darkest ruby between RHS 64A and 64B, lightening to RHS 61C    before the margin edge of whiter than RHS 69A or N155B; margin width    is feathered and irregular;-   Filaments: Two, 5 mm by 0.25 mm, between RHS 73B and RHS 73C;-   Anther: Elliptic, 1.5 mm by 1.0 mm, RHS 59A;-   Pollen: Abundant, globose, less than 0.1 mm; RHS 11C;-   Style: 4.0 mm by 0.25 mm, RHS 64A;-   Stigma: Cylindrical, 0.25 mm in diameter; persists after petals    drop; RHS 59B;-   Ovary: 1.0 mm by 0.75 mm, between RHS 143D and RHS 144B;-   Sepals: Four, acute apex, base fused forming corolla, with minute    hairs on margin and sparsely pubescent on the outer surface, lowest    one 4 mm long by about 0.5 mm wide, other three 3 mm long by about    0.5 mm wide, RHS 137A both surfaces;-   Peduncle: About 20 per plant; raceme, strong, erect, round,    pubescent; about 25 cm long and 3 mm in diameter at base, flowering    section of the main stem about 18 cm long, occasionally with two    opposite branches of 15 to 20 cm long and flowering on the terminal    10 to 17 cm; with less frequent branching at the lower nodes about 5    to 7 cm with flowering in the terminal 2 to 3 cm; color nearest RHS    N144A with some anthocyanin tinting of RHS 59A; diameter of    flowering portion of raceme about 2 cm;-   Pedicel: Upright, rigid, sparsely pubescent with minute hairs,    subtended by minutely pubescent bract of about 3 mm long and 1.0 mm    wide, bract RHS 137A both surfaces; pedicel 1.0 to 3 mm long and    less than 1.0 mm in diameter; nearest RHS 138B;-   Fruit: Elliptic, less than 1 mm long; between RHS 166A and RHS 166B;-   Hardiness, pest and disease resistance: The plant grows best with    plenty of moisture and adequate drainage, but is able to tolerate    some drought when mature. Hardiness at least from USDA zone 4    through 8. Disease and pest resistance beyond what is typical of    that of other Spiked Speedwell has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental Spiked Speedwell, Veronicaspicata ‘Foxy Lady’, as herein described and illustrated, with erectcompact spikes of numerous two-tone ruby and white buds and flowersabove low mats of foliage and suitable as a potted plant, for thegarden, and for cut flower arrangements.